What Caught My Eye Today

I'm off for a little rest and reaction for the next week, so if you don't see much new stuff over the next several days, I'm probably endulging in an adult beverage, reading a book or taking a nap.

Harry Potter - Albus Dumbledore, master wizard and Headmaster of Hogwarts, is gay. J.K. Rowling, author of the mega-selling fantasy series that ended last summer, outed the beloved character last night while appearing before a full house at Carnegie Hall in New York. She then explained that Dumbledore was smitten with rival Gellert Grindelwald, whom he defeated long ago in a battle between good and bad wizards. My apologies for leading off with this story, but you have to admit this is huge (wink-wink). I suppose this revelation is not such a big deal. After all, the Christian groups that would likely have been bothered by this already condemned the Harry Potter series for promoting witchcraft. Next to that, how much worse can a gay wizard be?

Pakistan - Benazir Bhutto blamed al-Qaida and Taliban militants for the assassination attempt against her that killed at least 136 people, and declared she would risk her life to restore democracy in Pakistan and prevent an extremist takeover. The former premier presented a long list of foes who would like to see her dead — from loyalists of a previous military regime that executed her politician father to Islamic hard-liners bent on stopping a female leader from modernizing Pakistan. Bhutto's procession had been creeping toward the center of Karachi for 10 hours Thursday when a small explosion erupted near the front of her truck as well-wishers swarmed around it. A larger blast quickly followed, destroying two police vans. Authorities said the assault bore the hallmarks of a Taliban-allied warlord and the al-Qaida terror network — with a man first throwing a grenade into the sea of people around Bhutto's convoy and then blowing himself up with a bomb wrapped in bolts and other pieces of metal. I don't claim to be an expert on security, but if Bhutto knew ahead of time that an attempt on her life was likely, what exactly was she thinking when she left herself open as a target for 10 hours in broad daylight. I'm not saying she should go into hiding, but at the same time, let's not go out there and basically dare someone to take a shot at you.

These next two items are kind of interesting. You'd think that the roles would be reversed.

Poland - Poland's upcoming election could bring to power a party that favors a quicker end to the country's military mission in Iraq and tougher bargaining over hosting a U.S. missile defense base — while still promising to remain a strong American ally. Polls give an edge to the pro-business Civic Platform party over Prime Minister Jaroslaw Kaczynski's conservative Law and Justice party going into the balloting for a new parliament. Both favor a strong alliance with Washington, but Civic Platform shows signs it may be more inclined to push for getting more for its friendship with the United States. Since taking power in fall 2005, Kaczynski's government has twice extended the Polish mission in Iraq, beefed up its force in Afghanistan to more than 1,000 soldiers, and voiced strong support for hosting the U.S. anti-missile base despite fierce objections from Russia. Civic Platform, in contrast, has called for bringing home Poland's 900 soldiers in Iraq, though some party officials have said that could take as long as until the end of 2008. The party also says Poland should get more from the U.S. in return for a missile base deal. Regardless of the outcome of the election, it's great that a debate like this actually taking place. It wasn't that long ago when Poland was just another Soviet-bloc nation. You go vote yourselves a new parliament, you crazy kids.

North Korea - North Korea wants the standoff over its nuclear weapons program resolved in order to forge better ties with the United States, according to South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun. Some North Korea analysts had speculated that Kim might try to convey to the U.S. his seriousness about resolving the nuclear issue through Roh. North Korea has been increasingly compliant in international talks to get rid of its nuclear program since the U.S. significantly softened its approach toward Pyongyang after the Communist regime conducted its first-ever nuclear test last October. I find it fascinating how countries at odds with the United States are much more interested in trying to work out their differences with us when we are not threatening to blow them up?

I cannot leave, without one more mention of our favorite damsel in distress.

Britney Spears - Hours after losing visitation rights with her two young sons, Britney Spears apparently ran over the foot of a photographer for celebrity Web site TMZ.com. Spears was driving away from a Beverly Hills medical building, her car surrounded by photographers. Earlier in the day, Spears learned she can no longer visit her two preschool-age sons, who are in the custody of ex-husband Kevin Federline, until she complies with a Superior Court order. Previously, Spears was ordered to undergo random drug and alcohol testing twice a week and to meet weekly with a "parenting coach." Based on Britney's recent track record, I'd say the judge did a huge favor for those poor children. I'm amazed that they managed to survive this long.

Alright then, I'm out of here. See you in a week.